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Tips for Buying Wedding Gifts

Buying a gift for the bride and groom can be a taunting task. Here are few FAQs you may want to take into consideration.

When should you buy a gift?It is considered proper to send a wedding gift shortly after receiving a wedding announcement or invitation. Contrary to the belief that you have up to a year to send a wedding gift, it should really be sent within three months of the wedding. If you are going to the wedding, instead of sending a gift, you can take the gift with you to the reception.

Do I have to buy from their gift registry?No. A registry is for your convenience and you are not limited to what is on their list. The registry is just a list of things the couple needs or wants, but you can get them whatever you want to. The couple may prefer you get a gift off of the registry, but ultimately the decision is yours.

How much should I spend on a gift?It is entirely up to you. Let your affection for the bride and groom and your budget be your guide. You don’t want to break the bank on a gift for a work associate you barely talk to and you don’t want to buy some cheap little trinket for some one you’ve been friends with your entire life.

Can I just give them money?In some cultures, money is THE traditional wedding gift. But others may feel that giving the gift of cash is ill-mannered. If you are one of the people who doesn’t like giving cash, you might consider buying the bride and groom a gift certificate or gift card from their favorite store or a universal gift card that they can use anywhere.

Should I send a gift or bring it to the wedding?If possible, send the gift to the bride before the wedding or to the couple soon after the wedding.It is almost a wedding custom now to bring the gift to the reception and place it on a special table. However, keep in mind that bringing a gift to the reception will only add to the duties of the person in charge of getting valuables from the reception (like the cake serving set, the cake topper, any rented items, etc.).

What do I do if I haven’t received a thank you note?You may want to ask the bride and groom if they received your gift. If you find this too awkward, if you purchased the gift from a registry, check with the store and see if you can get the gift traced.